I hope you catch whatever I am infected with

source: scienceblogs.com

This past November, I got some sort of respiratory bug, and I lost my voice.  My wife was thrilled about it, let me tell you.  It was before Thanksgiving, and, little did I know, it would be the start of a two-month streak of "non-healthiness."  After I got my voice back, I got a head cold, then I had a cough which lingered into December, followed by more nasal and head issues, followed triumphantly with the stomach flu, just in time to ring in the new year.

I don't ever recall experiencing such a streak of infections during my adult life.  No doubt I was continually exposed to some infectious agent from other sick people, and no doubt I infected someone else with my own infectious agents.  It's kind of like "paying it forward," right?

This morning, I came across an interesting quote that I wanted to share:

"Inspiration is contagious; the more we are exposed to it the more we inevitably pass it on."  ~ Christopher Novak

Imagine yourself waiting for an appointment in a room full of multiple sick people.  You may be in perfect health, but you are surrounded by people who are coughing and sneezing, wiping their noses, and touching doorknobs, water fountains, counter tops, and other items you will inevitably come into contact with while you are there.  How likely are you to become infected with a sickness when in close quarters with other sick people?

Think of a workplace which is full of toxicity -- people who have "checked out."  Think of a workplace full of people who are resigned to the fact that things have never changed, nor will things ever change.  Think of a workplace full of people who do not take accountability or responsibility for the things they say or do, and how they may impact others.  Instead of asking, "Why not?" people are asking "Why bother?"

A negative culture is extremely infectious.  With negativity abound, any "healthy" workers abound with positivity and energy are inevitably doomed to become sucked into the temple of doom, infected with negativity, and, in turn, resort to ineffective and unproductive behaviors.  After all, as time passes, they learn that what the culture believes is actually true -- They begin to say to themselves, "Things have never changed, nor will things ever change.  Why bother?  Nobody notices the great things I do anyway."

Think now of a workplace that is full of possibilities.  From the top of the organization down, people come to work inspired to make a difference, and what's more, they actually make it happen.  Think of a workplace full of people who know change is not only possible, but it is encouraged, embraced, and inevitable.  Think of a workplace where people assume responsibility for their actions, hold others accountable for their actions, and where teamwork, collaboration, and enthusiasm run high.

I hope after reading the paragraph above, that you felt something.  I hope you felt the positivity and inspiration coming from the words on the screen.  I hope you felt like straightening out your posture, lifting your head high, and feeling better about the day ahead.  That is the power of positivity -- the power of contagious enthusiasm.

I know there are days when it seems nothing is going right, or when you feel your mind and heart are just in the wrong place.  I challenge you, in those times, to find something positive.  Maybe it's the positive disposition of a worker at a gas station on your way to work.  Maybe it's a hug or kiss from a child, or an "I love you" from a loved one.  Take that positivity, embrace it, become it, and most importantly, use the power of contagious enthusiasm to pass it along to someone else.


I am feeling great today.  I hope you catch whatever positivity I am infected with!


Best wishes,


-Victor